42. Cemeteries | The Economics of Everyday Things

[@PeteJohnsMusic]

I can’t tell you how much I enjoy these episodes. Go you!

[@debzeb6899]

Listened to this on spotify today and wanted to comment that your listeners might be interested in a part 2 global look at cemetries and the economics of dying. In Manilla people live in the classy cemetery and then rent out space to others. There are apartment or car parking spaces for the dead that you rent and then can get demoted to. And there are big bone pits. Solves the real estate issues! In Germany a grave stands about 20 or 30 years. And in New Zealand cremation is very common so people buy plaques that go on cemetery walls but there's also a lot of plaques on benches that you'll find looking over favourite views. This is a great way to get park benches funded on bike trails and walkways.

[@robbriner9575]

Planet earth outside of the U.S. is more mature and realistic. Even the Pere Lachaise in Paris contains only long-term rentals, and whenever burials or internments are no longer supported financially by descendants, fan clubs, or institutions, remains are relocated to communal (unmarked) graves. The very notion that where we're buried should or will be honored FOREVER is absurd!

[@abokwu]

Mummies are in full support of this episode

[@YarPirates-vy7iv]

Zombies also support 🧠

[@wccross4147]

Well, the thing about cemeteries is that people are just dying to spend eternity there....

[@TennantMary]

No, I knew it. I knew they gonna replace those cemeteries the property and make more money.

[@markjohansen6048]

I would think that if you just ponder for a moment, you wouldn't believe you ill have that cemetery plot literally forever. 500 years from now? 1000? Sooner or later it will get plowed under, lost to forest, etc.

[@lauralilley8606]

Hmm, maybe the plot broker and I can talk about the time share I can't get rid of. Sounds like the beginning of a beautiful friendship.....

[@frequentlycynical642]

Burying dead people is weird. And the reality is that once the kids stop going to the grave site, that's about it forever unless you are a celebrity. Just taking up space the the living could use. Unmentioned is the corporate ownership of many cemeteries. Service Corporation of America owns many dozens of funeral homes that used to be family run. The keep that name, but it's a faceless corporation. Then grandpa gets buried in one of their cemeteries. Get cremated. My parents and two of my grandparents are in a nice niche in an arbor construction, If I had my druthers I'd be thrown off the Whitaker Bayou bridge to feed the blue crabs that I used to feed on. I doubt the city would permit that.

[@freshtwink]

I've often wondered about how cemeteries function fiscally. This episode managed to not answer any of my long-held questions.

[@ropeburnsrussell]

Most episodes dont explain much, I'm losing enthusiasm.